Bunaken is an 8.08km2
island in the bay of Manado, part of the administrative city of Manado. The
marine park around Bunaken is part of the National Park that also includes the
ocean around the island of Manado Tua, Siladen and Mantehage. Bunaken National
Marine Park has such a high level of biodiversity. A snorkeler or diver in the
vicinity of Lekuan or Fukui may spot over 33 species of butterfly fish and
numerous types of groupers, damsels, wrasses and gobies. The Gobies, small fish
with bulging eyes and modified fins that allow them to attach to hard surface,
are the most diverse but least known group of fish in the park.
The translucent waters of Bunaken seas enable people to clearly view numerous biota seas. The underwater visibility level is 20 meters, sometimes when the sky is clear it can reach 30 meters. There are 13 species of coral reefs in this park, dominated by edge ridges and block ridges of rocks. The most attractive view is the steep vertical sloppy coral reef that plunges down as deep as 25-50 meters.
When snorkeling or diving is not your choice, you can simply enjoy wandering around its pristine beach or rent a boat to travel between the islands. To reach this park, you can take a motorboat. The journey from Manado takes around 40 minutes, entrance fee is 25.000 rupiahs per person per visit. Make sure you visit Bunaken during its best season between May to August. That way you can explore the park to its fullest.
